With a focus on public safety and strengthening our infrastructure, Commissioner Lesley Briones voted to advance a general fund budget for fiscal year (FY) 2025 that will address the critical needs of Harris County residents.  

The Harris County budget outlines how taxpayer dollars are allocated to fund essential services to ensure the county’s resources are used effectively to meet the needs of the nearly 5 million residents. The budget includes funding for infrastructure, courts and law enforcement, public health, stable housing, precinct and county-wide operations, and overall government administration. 

The proposed FY 2025 budget totals nearly $2.7 billion. Because of disaster declarations following the May derecho and Hurricane Beryl, the County has the option to adopt a disaster response tax rate to provide the resources needed to recover. Court members will vote on the final rate on September 19.  

To improve disaster response, Court proposed an allocation of $5.7 million to the CJO Office of Emergency Management and Precincts, who provide front-line disaster recovery including debris removal, cooling/warming centers, and emergency distribution directly to families. Additionally, $20 million would be allocated to the Public Improvement Contingency (PIC) fund, which funds Harris County disaster recovery. 

In addition to disaster response, the proposed budget would allocate nearly $1.6 billion to justice and safety initiatives. Commissioner Briones spearheaded budget funding for critical initiatives including: 

• Three Additional District Criminal Courts – improve efficiency of justice as Harris County grows and reduce case backlog 
• Jail Based Competency Restoration Program – streamlines jail mental health services and helps reduce case backlog related to competency evaluation 
• Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) – crisis-trained clinicians and Sheriff’s deputies respond to mental health and behavioral calls  
• Domestic Violence Assistance Fund – provides assistance to domestic violence survivors and their families 

“I am deeply committed to being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. This budget is more than just numbers, it is a reflection of our values. By prioritizing investments in justice, safety, infrastructure, and disaster recovery, we are making Harris County a safer, more resilient place for all families,” said Commissioner Briones. 

Harris County Office of Management and Budget (OMB) held five public town halls to discuss the budget, including one in Precinct 4. These community meetings allowed OMB to share the budget process with the public and collect their feedback.  

Commissioners Court members are set to vote on adopting the proposed budget at the September 19th meeting. All residents are encouraged to tune in and engage in this important decision-making process at HCPrecinct4.